The effects of alcohol use on those around us are different from those of smoking because there are many more people who drink from time to time, as they see fit, than there are smokers who can stop or start at will. And we all know that most regular tobacco users become addicted, while most drinkers do not.

But it isn't necessary to be an alcoholic or become addicted to alcohol to cause problems for yourself or others because of your drinking. Many of those involved in alcohol-impaired highway crashes, for instance, are not alcoholics (although many are). People who do not ordinarily drink heavily sometimes do things they would not otherwise do if they happen to drink too much, sometimes with tragic consequences. These consequences can range from embarrassing social behavior, to accidental shootings, to exposure to HIV/AIDS, to causing death on the road. Any of these examples can disrupt or damage family life and cause harm to children.

To avoid these consequences, many people endorse "responsible," or "moderate" drinking. There are no uniform, universally accepted definitions for these terms, however, and too many drinkers call themselves responsible drinkers when, in fact, their consumption would more accurately be called alcohol abuse or high-risk drinking. How can you tell the difference? One way is to know and follow the alcohol recommendations in Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a booklet jointly developed and periodically revised by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These agencies ask a panel of doctors and scientists to give us all some basic tips about the food and beverages we eat and drink.

Here is what Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends for adult alcohol consumption (that's age 21 and over): no more than one drink per day for women; no more than two drinks per day for men. And what is a drink? According to these two Government agencies, a drink is a 12-ounce can of beer, a 5-ounce glass of a wine, or a shot glass (1¼ ounces) of an 80 proof distilled spirits beverage (such as vodka or scotch.) There are alcohol products such as malt drinks, wine coolers, fortified wines, and some others that actually contain deceptively high quantities of alcohol in spite of their light and fruity flavors or innocent-looking packaging. The packaged "serving" of some of these actually may count as more than one true serving of alcohol. What To Know. What To Do

If you find it difficult to follow these guidelines, then for your own sake and for your family's, learn more about how and why you drink and whether you are on your way to developing a serious drinking problem. As with smoking, the good news is that there are many resources available, from online Internet resources, to free and low-cost self-help and professional services in or near your community. In addition to seeing your family doctor, here are some of your options:

Access the Internet tool created by the nonprofit Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Join Together, a project at the Boston University School of Public Health that helps people assess their drinking. It is available at Alcoholscreening.org.

Check out the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence's (NCADD's) classic self-test brochure, What Are the Signs of Alcoholism? Many people have found this self-test helpful in deciding about their own drinking. NCADD is also one of a number of resources for locating local help if a drinking problem has developed.

Call the toll-free telephone service of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 1-800-729-6686. This provides another convenient system for locating information and treatment resources at the community level.

Get screened on National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD). Held each April, this is an opportunity for people who want a professional assessment of their drinking. On this day, thousands of community groups and college campuses provide sites where anyone can quickly learn, through a simple, self-administered test, if they need to seek further help. You can learn more about who offers an NASD site convenient to you by calling (781) 239-0071 or sending an e-mail to nasd@mentalhealthscreening.org.

If you're a parent or caregiver who drinks, the bottom line is to be sure that your use of alcohol falls within recommended health guidelines, doesn't impair your abilities, and doesn't worry or threaten those around you. Learning more is the first step to feeling confident that you won't harm yourself or others through your drinking; it is also the first step to getting appropriate help if you need it. The sooner you take action, the easier the remedy and the better the chances are that you and those you care about will never suffer because of your relationship with alcohol.

About the Author

SAMHSA works to improve the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, alcohol and drug addiction treatment, and mental health services. Includes links to support groups, information resources, events and articles.